One of my good friends is working for a major corporation in a role that no longer challenges him. He’s been in his position for over a year now and is interested in doing something completely different inside the same company, but he’s concerned that it will hurt him politically if he announces that he wants to transfer to a different department. Here are some tips for a smooth transition:

Be honest and up front with your manager: Most companies want you to stay in your role for at least a year. Your manager should be the first to know about your desire to move across the organization, because he can recommend you for a new position and connect you to the hiring manager. If you make it known that you’re looking to move without telling your boss, it might get back and make him look bad.

Network with employees who have the job you want: Through your internal social network, LinkedIn or referrals, you should pinpoint who is already doing what you want to do across your company.

Then, contact them directly to find out more about them, how they like their roles and what their jobs consist of. By forming relationships with these employees, it will help your chances at securing a new job.

Don’t slack off: It’s very easy to lose focus at your job if you’re searching for a new one. The best way to get promoted — or to just move around in your organization — is to be extremely good at what you’re currently doing first.

– Dan Schawbelis the author of “Me 2.0,” the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, LLC, and a personal branding expert.

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